Lebanon Valley 8, Westminster (Pa.) 5

LVC Starters
Edwards (2B), Z. Smith (SS), Berry (3B), Kiessling (C), Fundell (1B), Smarkanic (LF), Albright (DH), Harned (RF), Puglisi (CF), Houseal (P)

Westminster Starters
Lauster (RF), Dunn (SS), Coyne (3B), Rossier (1B), Douds (DH), Alexander (C), Canty (2B), Baummer (LF), Salmen (CF), Borton (P)

How It Happened
FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Lebanon Valley used a three-run sixth inning to overtake Westminster (Pa.) and eventually earn its first victory of the season with the 8-5 victory over the Titans. The Dutchmen improved to 1-2, while Westminster slipped to 1-2.

The Titans set the tone of the game early when Michael Douds singled to left field in the top of the first to make it 1-0. LVC, however, got even on Westminster in the bottom of the frame when Philip Berry doubled to right center, scoring Zac Edwards and tying the game at 1-1. In the top of the second, Westminster took advantage of some Dutchmen errors and scored four runs, three of which were unearned, to take a 5-1 lead.

The Dutchmen got some of those runs back in the bottom of the second when Jonathan Harned singled down the right field line, scoring Matthew Smarkanic and cutting the deficit to 5-2. Later in the inning, Mike Puglisi stepped up to the plate and singled up the middle to score Harned and make it 5-3.

After the first two innings, both pitchers began to settle down and throw up 0's on the scoreboard. LVC finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth, however, when Harned ripped a double to right field that scored Brett Fundell for a 5-4 contest. Puglisi came through again for the Dutchmen when he roped a two-RBI single to center field, scoring Harned and Colin Albright to give LVC its first lead of the day at 6-5.

In the top of the seventh, Westminster had the tying run on first when the ball was hit into foul territory. Smarkanic raced over and made an incredible diving catch to preserve the one-run lead. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Albright gave Michael Houseal some insurance when he hit a two-RBI double to score Smarkanic and Fundell for the 8-5 advantage. Houseal took care of the Westminster offense from there and shut down the Titans in the top of the ninth, as he finished the game in style, recording the final out via the strikeout.

Inside the Numbers
 - Houseal was stellar on the mound today, tossing nine innings while giving up two earned runs and striking out five.
 - Puglisi finished with a 3-for-4 day from the plate to go along with three RBI.
 - Fundell notched two hits for the Dutchmen and scored two runs, while Albright and Harned also had two hits a piece.
 - As a team, LVC racked up 13 hits compared to the Titans' nine.

Who's Next?
The Dutchmen continue their Florida trip tomorrow against Marywood in a double header. The first game is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.